
Hosted by Sammy Peterson · EN

Hewitt Tomlin saw a problem nobody was solving. As a college quarterback, he watched athletes train from paper packets while smartphones were changing everything else. So he built a software platform to bring strength and conditioning into the digital age. After years of rejected pitches, failed fundraising attempts, and balancing a start-up alongside full-time jobs, Hewitt chose a different path. He built a business that customers would pay for, which helped turn TeamBuildr into one of the leading sports platforms. In this episode, Hewitt joins Sammy to share how the lessons he learned as an athlete helped him as a CEO, why failing to raise money became an advantage, and what it takes to build a company from the ground up. Hewitt Tomlin is the co-founder and CEO of TeamBuildr, one of the leading strength-and-conditioning platforms in sports. After spotting a problem as a college athlete, he bootstrapped the company from scratch and grew it into a trusted tool for coaches. In this episode, Sammy and Hewitt will discuss: (00:00) Introduction (01:20) What Athletes Get Right About Leadership (03:55) The Bad Boss That Changed Everything (05:15) How Bootstrapping Beat Venture Capital (09:50) The Startup Mistakes That Slowed Growth (17:23) The Hardest Part of Leading People (18:48) The Skill Every Leader Needs Today (21:38) Building a Product People Love Hewitt Tomlin is an entrepreneur, former college quarterback, and the co-founder and CEO of TeamBuildr. By focusing on customers over investors, Hewitt built TeamBuildr into a profitable business serving coaches and athletes across every level of competition. He is passionate about leadership, performance, and helping others build sustainable businesses from the ground up. Connect with Hewitt: Hewitt’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/htomlin1/ Hewitt’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hewitttomlin/ TeamBuildr’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/teambuildr-llc/ Connect With Sammy: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/businessmvppodcast/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samantha-peterson-0442586/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@businessmvppodcast/featured Become a Business MVP: Ready to level up the way you lead, build, and grow? The Entrepreneur’s Boardroom is where ambitious business owners come together to sharpen their next move, unlock bigger opportunities, and become the MVP of their business. Join Sammy Peterson today at www.theentrepreneursboardroom.com/

One call ended Jack Oujo's dream of reaching the major leagues. After spending eight years as a professional baseball umpire, he was released just short of the top level. Instead of letting rejection define him, he used it as fuel to reinvent himself, eventually building one of the nation's leading tax-focused wealth management firms with more than $800 million in assets. In this episode, Jack joins Sammy to share the lessons baseball taught him about pressure, decision-making, mentorship, customer experience, and why doing the right thing consistently became the foundation of both his business success and personal fulfillment. In this episode, Sammy and Jack will discuss: (00:00) Introduction (02:19) The Umpire Lessons That Built a Business (05:59) Why Every Athlete Needs a Second Plan (10:34) The Risk Strategy That Grew an $800M Business (16:48) The Hardest Decision Every Founder Faces (21:03) The Reinvention Formula For Life After Rejection (27:36) Giving Back to the Game That Cut Him Jack Oujo is the founder of Oujo Wealth Strategies, a nationally recognized wealth management firm overseeing more than $800 million in assets. A former professional baseball umpire and author of Too Smart to Be an Umpire!, he is known for helping clients build wealth through disciplined planning, risk management, and long-term thinking. Resources Mentioned: Jack’s Book, Too Smart to Be an Umpire!: https://www.amazon.com/Too-Smart-Umpire-Jack-Oujo/dp/1506915329 The Power of Negative Thinking: An Unconventional Approach to Achieving Positive Results by Bob Knight with Bob Hammel: https://www.amazon.com/dp/054402771X Connect with Jack: Jack’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jackoujo/ Jack’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jack-oujo-cpa-cfp-ms-tax-97906810/ Too Smart to be an Umpire! Website: https://toosmarttobeanumpire.com Oujo Wealth Strategies: https://www.oujowealthstrategies.com Connect With Sammy: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/businessmvppodcast/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samantha-peterson-0442586/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@businessmvppodcast Become a Business MVP: Ready to level up the way you lead, build, and grow? The Entrepreneur’s Boardroom is where ambitious business owners come together to sharpen their next move, unlock bigger opportunities, and become the MVP of their business. Join Sammy Peterson today at www.theentrepreneursboardroom.com

Marques Ogden’s life after the NFL looked like a textbook success story. He built an eight-figure business that earned him industry-wide recognition. Then, one award, a growing ego, and a series of poor decisions brought everything crashing down. Within 90 days, the business was gone, and Marques found himself broke, unemployed, and questioning everything. Instead of staying there, he rebuilt from scratch, transforming his biggest failure into the foundation for a new career as a keynote speaker, author, and business advisor. In this episode, Marques joins Sammy to share the dangers of unchecked ego, the lessons hidden inside rock bottom, and why discipline, ownership, and resilience are the keys to any comeback. Marques Ogden is a former NFL offensive lineman, three-time bestselling author, keynote speaker, and host of the Get Authentic with Marques Ogden podcast. After losing an eight-figure construction business, he rebuilt his life and career by helping leaders and organizations navigate adversity, culture, and growth. In this episode, Sammy and Marques will discuss: (00:00) Introduction (01:02) The Power of Betting on Yourself (03:10) Turning an NFL Exit Into an 8 Figure Business (06:03) When Success Turns Dangerous (11:59) Rebuilding After Rock Bottom (17:40) The Mistake He Refused to Repeat (21:00) Staying in the Game When Things Fall Apart (23:05) How to Bounce Back From Failure (25:00) The Simple Habit That Builds Trust (27:01) Why Clients Are Your Real MVPs Marques Ogden is a former NFL offensive lineman, three-time bestselling author, keynote speaker, and host of the Get Authentic with Marques Ogden podcast. Following his football career, he built an eight-figure construction business before losing it all and rebuilding from the ground up. Today, he is a trusted advisor to Fortune 500 companies, professional sports organizations, and leadership teams, known for his work on resilience, culture, leadership, and peak performance. Connect with Marques: Marques’ Website: https://marquesogden.com Marques’ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marquesogden/ Marques’ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marquesogden/ Marques’ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MarquesOgdenSpeaker/ Resources Mentioned: Marques’ Podcast, Get Authentic with Marques Ogden: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/get-authentic-with-marques-ogden/id1633323257 Mel Robbins’ Book, Kick Ass with Mel Robbins: Life-Changing Advice from the Author of “The 5 Second Rule”: https://www.amazon.com/Kick-Ass-with-Mel-Robbins-audiobook/dp/B07BZVL8PJ Connect With Sammy: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/businessmvppodcast/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samantha-peterson-0442586/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@businessmvppodcast Become a Business MVP: Ready to level up the way you lead, build, and grow? The Entrepreneur’s Boardroom is where ambitious business owners come together to sharpen their next move, unlock bigger opportunities, and become the MVP of their business. Join Sammy Peterson today at www.theentrepreneursboardroom.com

Angela Ruggiero achieved what most athletes spend a lifetime chasing before she turned 20. As the youngest player on the first-ever U.S. women's Olympic hockey team, she won Olympic gold and went on to build one of the most decorated careers in women's hockey history. In her second act, after earning an MBA from Harvard, Angela entered the world of entrepreneurship and founded Sports Innovation Lab, helping sports organizations make smarter business decisions through data and consumer insights. In this episode, Angela joins Sammy to share lessons on leadership and entrepreneurship, how elite athletes approach failure, why culture drives long-term success, and how to build a career that continues evolving long after your first chapter ends. Angela Ruggiero is an Olympic gold medalist, Hockey Hall of Famer, entrepreneur, and keynote speaker. A former captain of Team USA Hockey, she later founded Sports Innovation Lab and has become a leading voice on leadership, innovation, and the business of sports. In this episode, Sammy and Angela will discuss: (00:00) Introduction (03:35) Staying Hungry After Olympic Gold (10:01) Why Culture Beats Talent (15:44) The Truth About Successful Exits (20:18) The Advantage of Starting Over (25:06) The Leadership Decisions That Define Teams (32:10) Building Businesses From Untapped Opportunities (37:50) Building a Legacy Through Service Angela Ruggiero is a four-time Olympian, Olympic gold medalist, and one of the most decorated players in women's hockey history. Following her athletic career, she earned an MBA from Harvard Business School and founded Sports Innovation Lab before being acquired by Genius Sports. Today, Angela is an investor, board member, broadcaster, and keynote speaker who advises organizations on leadership, innovation, and the future of sports. Connect with Angela: Angela’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/angelamruggiero/ Angela’s X: https://x.com/AngelaRuggiero Angela’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/angela.m.ruggiero/ Business MVP: Ready to level up the way you lead, build, and grow? The Entrepreneur’s Boardroom is where ambitious business owners come together to sharpen their next move, unlock bigger opportunities, and become the MVP of their business. Join Sammy Peterson today at www.theentrepreneursboardroom.com